News 16:00

BULLETIN 30 October 4 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Police argue the March and March protests in Durban have descended into lawlessness
# Tanzania and Angola plan to link their ocean corridors
# And soccer: CAF restores AFCON to its traditional two-year cycle

# Police say they are struggling to manage the anti-immigration organisation March and March’s protests in Durban’s CBD, citing alleged violence, dangerous weapons and disruption of street vendors’ businesses. Advocate Nalini Govender, representing police and the Police Ministry, told the KwaZulu-Natal High Court some gatherings are no longer peaceful and unarmed as required by the Constitution. She argues protesters engaging in violence, intimidation and unlawful conduct should not enjoy constitutional protection:

# The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse warns South Africans could face higher monthly electricity charges under the proposed revised pricing policy, even if they use less power. The organisation is also concerned that higher fixed charges and proposed time-of-use tariffs could penalise households investing in rooftop solar. OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage says the draft policy places too much focus on protecting the revenue of Eskom and other electricity suppliers, rather than keeping power affordable and encouraging competition.

# The Border Management Authority says strengthened border surveillance, intelligence-led operations and partnerships with the private sector are producing positive results in the fight against cross-border crime. Two Ford Ranger rental vehicles suspected to have been fraudulently obtained were intercepted while being smuggled into Mozambique through the Kosi Bay border in Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal. BMA spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi says two suspects were arrested:

# Tanzania and Angola have agreed to link their Indian and Atlantic Ocean transport corridors through Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tanzanian president Samia Suluhu Hassan says the Benguela railway will connect to the Tanzania-Zambia railway, linking Angola’s Lobito corridor to the port of Dar-es-Salaam. The project follows a Chinese agreement to modernise the Tanzania-Zambia railway, strengthening regional trade and mineral exports. No completion date has been announced.

# Soccer: African governing body CAF has confirmed the Africa Cup of Nations will return to a two-year cycle, reversing its previous decision to organise the tournament every four years. The event has been played every two years since 1968, bar a one-year gap between the 2012 and 2013 editions. CAF president Patrice Motsepe says this decision protects African soccer’s interests and gives the proposed Africa Nations League more time to develop. The next tournament will take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda next year.

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-66-cents and the euro at 18-rand-65-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-37-cents and Bitcoin trades at 77-thousand-354-dollars. Gold sells at three-thousand-963-dollars-85-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 117-dollars-93-sents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….